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15 Wacher
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We walked into the main hall at the packhouse.
Damien kept me glued to his side, arm around my waist like a chain.
The place was wrecked with broken windows, furniture flipped, blood smears on the walls that someone hadn’t cleaned yet.
People moved fast, sweeping glass, carrying injured pack members to the infirmary, talking in low voices.
Damien’s face stayed hard, eyes scanning everything.
He stopped a beta near the stairs. “Report.”
The beta wiped sweat from his forehead. “Three dead, two omegas, one guard. Six injured bad, borders held, but they got close and they took out the east gate.”
Damien nodded once. “Damage to supplies?”
“Food stores hit, half the meat gone, medical stuff low.”
I felt my stomach twist. I stayed quiet, fingers twisting in the hem of my dress.
Damien’s arm tightened, “fix it, double guards on supplies, get the wounded to heal first.”
The beta left quick. Damien pulled me toward the big table in the center.
Maps and papers scattered. He sat me in a chair next to his, hand still on my shoulder,” stay.”
I nodded, voice small, “okay.”
He leaned over the table, talking low to two other alphas. “We need numbers. Who hit us? How many?”
One alpha flipped a page. “Scouts say rogue alliance, it wasn’t one pack. Multiple, they’ re testing us.”
Damien’s jaw clenched, “they’ll do more than test next time.”
I watched him. He looked drained. His eyes were tired and his shoulders tense, but he still stood tall and powerful in a hot way that made my thighs squeeze together even though I hated it right now.
I raked fingers through my hair, trying to focus.
He turned to me after the alphas left. “You need to do Luna duties.”
My heart jumped, “what?”
“Reassure the packhe pups especially. They’re scared, qe need to sell it, make them believe everything’s fine.”
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15 Voucher
I shook my head fast, “I wouldn’t know what to say. I don’t even know these kids.”
“Linda will be with you.” He squeezed my shoulder once, “Go, calm them, I’ll handle the rest.”
He walked away without waiting for me to answer. I sat there, chest tight, staring at his back until he disappeared down the hall.
Linda found me a minute later. She sat next to me, hand on my arm. “Hey. You okay?”
I looked at her, eyes stinging. “No. I don’t know how to do this. Reassure pups? I’m barely holding it together.”
She nodded slow. “I know it’s scary but you have to, they’re looking for you, for hope. The Luna’s supposed to be that.”
I wiped my face quick. “I ran away. I almost got killed and now I’m supposed to act like I can fix this?”
Linda sighed. “That’s why you can’t run again. That rogue you ran into? That’s what happens when you go alone. Rogues are cast out with no pack, no home, no rules. They’ll do anything to survive. Kill, steal, bite. If one gets you, it’s over. Slow poison or feral madness, there’s no cure, you got lucky Damien found you.”
I shivered. “I know but I was scared, still am.”
“Everyone knows you’re Luna now,” she said. “Word spread fast. If you disappear again, the pack falls apar, enemies see weakness, pups lose hope. You stay, for them.”
I nodded slow, tears dripping. “Okay. Fine. I’ll stay for now.”
Linda smiled small. “Good, cheer up, let’s go see the pups. You’ll love them. Some lost parents in the attack, they need you.”
I stood up, wiping my face again. “What do I even say?”
“Just be there. Hold them. Tell them it’s okay. That we’re safe and that the Alpha’s handling it.”
I followed her down the hall to the kids’ wing. Voices got louder, crying, small laughs, someone reading a story. Linda pushed the door open.
Pups everywhere, some curled on couches, others on the floor with blankets. A few looked up fast when they saw me.
One little girl ran over, hugging my legs. “Luna!”
The fuck?
I knelt down slow with my arms around her. “Hey, sweetie.”
More came, a boy with a bandaged arm, twins holding hands. I sat on the floor and they climbed on me, talking all at once.
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“Did you see the bad wolves?”
“Are we safe now?”
I swallowed hard. “Yeah. We’re safe. The Alpha took care of it and I’m here now.”
The girl hugged tighter. “I was scared. My mommy got hurt.”
15 Voucher
I rocked her. “I know. I’m sorry vut she’s getting better. And I’ll stay close. Promise.”
Linda sat next to me, rubbing a boy’s back. “See? Luna’s got you.”
I looked at all their faces. Big eyes, tear tracks, small hands grabbing my dress. My chest hurt. “I’m not going anywhere,” I said. “We’re family. We stick together.”
A boy asked, “Will the bad wolves come back?”
I shook my head. “Not if we stay strong. And we are strong. Right?”
They nodded fast. “Right!”
I smiled, even though tears still burned. “Good. Now who wants a story?”
Hands shot up. I started telling the first thing I remembered from childhood. They listened quiet, leaning on me. Linda mouthed “good job”.
I kept talking, feeling better now.
The door slammed open hard. Kade strode in, scarred face twisted, carrying a small pup in his arms.
The room went dead quiet. Everyone stopped talking, heads turning fast. The pup was tiny, maybe four, cheeks red and wet, sobs shaking her whole body.
Kade set her down gentle but firm on the floor. The little girl immediately curled into a ball, crying louder, hands over her face.
All eyes snapped to me.
Kade looked straight at me, voice loud. “Found her alone in a room. Crying her eyes out. Luna, comfort her.”
I stood up slow, heart racing. “How? She won’t stop crying.”
He crossed his arms. “She lost her mother in the attack. Nothing calms her. Nothing except the touch of a Luna wolf.”
I blinked. “What do you want me to do?”
Kade stepped closer. “The only way a pup feels peace is the Luna’s wolf form, her touch, her scent, shift.”
My stomach dropped. “What?”
He closed the distance between us, towering, scarred eye glaring down. “Shift.”
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